Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Episode 25 – Those Who Face a God (1)

My party arrived at Veronica and rested for one day . The next morning, I got up first and stood at the entrance of the castle as I informed the party of my plans . Lee Hyunsung asked, “Surely you’re not going alone?”

“I won’t be alone . I’m going with those two . ” I pointed to Han Sooyoung and Asuka Ren .

Then Lee Jihye wondered, “What are we going to do while Ahjussi is gone?”

“You and Hyunsung-ssi are in charge of guarding Veronica’s walls . Have you checked the updated scenario?”

“…Is it to defend Veronica Castle until the end of the scenario period?”

“Yes . That is your mission . ”

“But…”

“Do it . ”

“…I understand . ”

I looked at Lee Hyunsung . “There is Gong Pildu but it will be hard to stop the disasters with Armed Fortress alone . I’m sorry to leave it to you but…”

“Don’t worry . Protecting a base is my specialty . ”

I was relieved by his determined words but I knew it wouldn’t be that easy . It might seem like an easy task but surviving this scenario was harder than going with me .

“If you see the ‘snake’ of the first group, don’t confront him head on . Flee Veronica Castle if you have to . Can you promise me this?”

“I promise . ”

Their mission was to protect the castle until I returned . I gave orders to Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung . “Secure as many insects and monsters as possible . Your mission is to buy time . ”

Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung nodded .

“If you go to the north forest then there will be many unique monsters of this world . Go and tame those monsters . ”

“Yes Hyung . ”

“I understand Ahjussi . ”

A large number of monsters would help bridge the gap with the disasters . In the process, the children’s skills would also increase significantly . I left Veronica Castle . Han Sooyoung saw the people watching us from behind and asked, “So where are we going?”

“The eastern rocky zone . ”

The startled Asuka Ren told me . “The Japanese has already occupied that area . ”

“I know . ”

I stared straight at Asuka Ren . She had soft and curly silver hair . She had a clear face with sharp lines, like a cartoonist had painstakingly drawn it . It was a face that gave off the feeling of a warrior rather than just a beauty .

I told her, “That’s why I brought you . ”

“Do you trust me?”

“I don’t trust you . I just want to get back the value of saving your life . ”

“…I see . ”

It was easier to say this than to buy her favour with kindness . In fact, Asuka Ren looked worried about something . Perhaps when her troubles were over, she would tell me the information in earnest .

We travelled over the plains area towards an area filled with rock formations . The trip was estimated to take two days but we could do it within one day if we moved fast .

Han Sooyoung asked, “What is the plan?”

“Unlike us, Japan has an Absolute Throne . In other words, there is an ‘absolute king’ among the first group who commands all of them . ”

Han Sooyoung pondered on my words . “…Do you mean to catch the king?”

Han Sooyoung was really quick to understand . I nodded .

Han Sooyoung muttered, “Well, your idea is correct . There would be a profound effect on the entire group if the master of the Absolute Throne dies…”

“Of course, killing the king won’t stop all of them . Still, it will allow us to hold on until the end of the scenario . ”

“Hrmm, then you’ve been aiming for the boss since the beginning? I like your ambition . ”

Then Asuka Ren interrupted . “Do you know who the king of Japan is now?”

“Isn’t he the Sovereign of Eight Heads?”

The Sovereign of Eight Heads . It was abbreviated to just a ‘snake . ’

“H-How do you…?”

Asuka Ren was astonished and her body shook . It was natural . She was part of the first group and knew that type of existence the Sovereign of Eight Heads was .

For reference, the Sovereign of Eight Heads wasn’t the nickname for the Japanese king but the modifier of his sponsor . The king didn’t have a nickname because there was no meaning in one .

“You must’ve heard his modifier somewhere but he isn’t as easy as you think…”

“I’m aware of that . He is Yamata no Orochi . ”

The sky darkened at my words and there was a rumbling sound . Perhaps that guy had heard me speaking . It was a powerful force belonging to the constellations .

“…Orochi? Isn’t that the name of a mythical monster in Japan?”

“That’s right . Now he is Japan’s king . ”

“Then why is he called by his sponsor’s name? Doesn’t he have a nickname?”

“It is meaningless . That incarnation isn’t sane anymore . During the six scenarios, he made a ridiculous contract with the Sovereign of Eight Heads and had his soul stolen . ”

Asuka Ren’s mouth gaped open when she heard my words . She was surprised that the incarnation of another country knew more about the circumstances then she did .

“Then he will be in the rocky zone?”

“Yes . However, we can’t catch him right now . Preparations are necessary . We are going to meet someone else in the rock area . ”

“Meeting someone? Is it… Yoo Jonghyuk?”

“He is better than Yoo Jonghyuk?”

“…Is there a person better than him?”

“It is possible . ”

“Who?”

“A strong person from Peace Land . ”

Han Sooyoung frowned . “From Peace Land? Are you joking right now?”

It was understandable . This information didn’t appear in the first 100 chapters .

“Don’t you know how weak the kids here are?” Han Sooyoung exclaimed without giving me a chance to answer . She always looked particularly agitated when she became angry .

“There isn’t a third rate swordsman here, let alone a sword master! The only magic these kids can use is to create fire on a stove . ”

I know .

“This isn’t a first generation fantasy novel… It is like someone has maliciously gathered only weak people . No, I don’t understand it . Why did the dokkaebis make this world a stage? Is this an alternative idea to give coins?”

I could understand why Han Sooyoung was so upset . This girl might be a plagiarist but she was a popular fantasy writer .

“Relax . This world wasn’t made by the dokkaebis . ”

“What?”

I looked behind me . There was a woman looking down with a flushed face . It felt like a very new writer standing in front of an experienced writer .

Asuka hesitated for a moment before bowing . “I’m sorry . ”

Han Sooyoung seemed to realize something .

“Wait, don’t tell me?”

Asuka Ren slowly nodded . “…Peace Land is a world I created . ”

Perhaps Asuka Ren shouldn’t have revealed this .

At first, Han Sooyoung was so astonished she couldn’t believe it was real . Then after five minutes, she murmured, “Well, my novel became a reality . ” Then another five minutes passed and she started scolding Asuka Ren .

“Why did you do that?”

“…”

“Huh? Why? Answer me, writer . Why did you make a world like this?”

Asuka Ren ended up half crying . “That… there are many mainstream worlds in Japan . So…”

“Ah, you created this to resist the mainstream worlds?”

“I-I thought that as a writer, I shouldn’t bring out a mass production story . ”

“Mass production?” Maybe she said something she shouldn’t have . Han Sooyoung declared, “Your work can’t even be mass produced . ”

“…Huh?”

Han Sooyoung stared at Asuka Ren like she was pathetic and then told me . “Hey, Kim Dokja . Is this it? I stayed a few days in Veronica and in this world, the earl speaks ill of the duke . Besides, the knights are all like parasites and only know how to dither…”

Asuka Ren protested, “W-Wait a minute!”

“Shut up . We are suffering now because of you . ”

“I made it but I wasn’t the one who called you here . ”

“Look at this girl? The dokkaebis bought it from you and made your world into reality! The manga must’ve been ruined! Let’s throw all the ruined mangas into a world and kill them! You must’ve prayed with this thought and received a message like ‘I will listen to your wishes . ’ Right?”

It was the first time I had heard such creative reasoning . She truly was a writer .

“N-No! That isn’t possible!”

“Then what is it?”

I became curious when I heard this . There was no mention of why Asuka Ren’s Peace Land was adopted as a scenario in Ways of Survival . Perhaps I could get a hint about the writer of Ways of Survival from this?

“That…”

Han Sooyoung was pulling out a sword while Asuka Ren took one step back . I interrupted them . “I’m really curious but I’m afraid we can’t hear it now . ”

“Huh?”

“Run!”

We moved by a hair’s breadth and sharp swords slashed at where we had been standing .

Asuka Ren desperately ran with a pale face . Han Sooyoung asked, “Shit, when did they follow us?”

“They are good at stealth . ”

“How many are there?”

“Four people . ”

They didn’t underestimate us and tried to assassinate us . We had no chance in a head on battle .

Asuka Ren gasped for air and said, “It seems to be the Wind Shadow Squadron . They are the subordinates of the Sovereign of Eight Heads . ”

“Those brats have weird names . ”

This wasn’t the timing for them to chase me . It seemed that it was a mistake to mention Orochi’s true name . As soon as we entered the rocky area, the range of our movements became better .

It was due to Asuka Ren’s guidance . Once again, the person who created the world was different .

Nevertheless, the distance was narrowing as the Wind Shadow Squadron caught up to us .

Han Sooyoung spoke like she had made up her mind . “Ah, I don’t know . Kim Dokja, go first . I’ll buy some time . ”

“Is it okay?”

“Don’t you know me? I’m a master at dying . ”

“Then I’ll believe in you . ” I grabbed Asuka Ren and ran . “Ren-ssi, there is no time anymore . Quickly find him . ”

“I-I don’t know what you’re saying . ”

“The returnee Kyrgios . ”

“Huh?”

I shouted while avoiding a flying sword . It seemed that Han Sooyoung had missed some people .

“Tell me where Kyrgios is . ”

“…I don’t know who that is?”

I expected it to be like this . In Ways of Survival, it only mentioned that Kyrgios was here and he never came out directly .

“I really don’t know! I never created such a person!”

“Nope, you know . He is the only powerhouse of Peace Land . ”

“There isn’t a person like that in my manga! Besides, the characters in my manga are weak!”

Then a sword thrust at us . I turned sharply and stopped . I didn’t want to do this but I had to touch her wound .

“Your Peace Land was terminated early in the 11th episode and you didn’t get a single volume published after that . ”

“H-How do you…?”

“I know that you wanted authentic fantasy in your heart . However, it didn’t work out . Your manga, is it really authentic fantasy?”

Two people from the Wind Shadow Squadron appeared in the smoke . I would be able to cope with them if I was my usual self, but now it was hard to stop even one . I brushed aside the katana but my wrist was broken .

I activated White Pure Star Energy and shouted calmly . “It was just once but you became angry when you saw the reaction of readers and drew a person . ”

“W-What are you saying?”

“He is a strong person not fit for Peace Land . You felt guilty about pandering to the public by drawing such a person . That sense of guilt ruined your Peace Land . ”

“No! I never did that!”

“Please take responsibility until the end . Even if only one reader watches this world . ”

“Ah, ahh…

It became more and more difficult for me to avoid the blades . The panicked Asuka Ren was completely frozen . Two katanas flew towards my upper and lower half . Dammit, was I wrong?

“…I’m sorry, I’m really sorry . ” Then a voice was heard . “You’re right . I obviously…”

The next moment, the surrounding air changed . I felt my limbs become stiff from the cold . Then another voice was heard .

[Who are you?]

I didn’t look back but it was clearly a presence comparable to the constellations . Otherwise my Fourth Wall wouldn’t be shaking so much .

I looked ahead and saw the Japanese people standing like stone statues . They couldn’t even speak as pure white lightning fell towards them from the sky . The powerful disasters turned into ashes from the lightning .

Once the clouds that caused the lightning disappeared, a small doll was floating . It was unbelievable . The powerful presence floating in the air was definitely a small person .

…He was properly hooked .

[I will ask again . Who are you?]

“It is nice to meet you, Kyrgios . ”

Kyrgios Rodgraim of Peace Land . He was one of the strongest returnees in Ways of Survival .